Author Archives
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War" and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2060
With a Slaine-inspired cover from Simon Davis, the latest 2000AD wraps up every story ahead of the awesome 2000AD Prog 2061 with its special Starlord story. There’s a sting in the tale of “Judge Dredd” this issue, which leads directly… Read More ›
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Who remembers “Jet Jason” by Dave Gibbons? A look back at British Airways Fleetwings magazine
One of the things downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf likes collecting are comics and magazines that may have been rather forgotten about. A few months ago, he spotted a copy of Fleetwings on eBay, an unusual looking item that piqued his… Read More ›
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Clockwork Watch project in the spotlight for latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
It’s time for another episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, and in this episode the team interview the guys behind the Clockwork Watch multimedia project, who are a regular part of the annual event (returning 12th – 14th… Read More ›
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The Forever War – graphic novel trailer and Sneak Peek
Next week (5th December 2017) sees Titan Comics hotly-anticipated release of SF legend Joe Haldeman‘s The Forever War – a stunning graphic novel adaptation of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel. Beautifully illustrated by legendary artist Marvano, and adapted for comics by… Read More ›
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In Review: Dog Days by Anja Dahle Øverbye
Created by Anja Dahle Øverbye Published in the UK by Centrala Books (published in Norwegian by Jippi Forlag as “Hundedager”) 72 pages – Black and White interiors – £9.00 The Story: This book draws inspiration from North-Western Norway, where the creator… Read More ›
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Dark Hall Mansion offers “A Charlie Brown Christmas” prints by Jérémy Pailler
Dark Hall Mansion, has just released details of its latest Peanuts-inspired prints, the officially licensed “A Charlie Brown Christmas” limited edition fine art prints for 2017 by artist Jérémy Pailler and available this Friday, 1st December 2017. Produced under license from… Read More ›
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Dan and Nik Abnett join Enniskillen Comic Fest 2018 2000AD-centric line up
Enniskillen Comic Fest has added Nik and Dan Abnett to its list of guests for its event in May 2018, joining other creators such as DaNi, Boo Cook and Colin MacNeil already announced. With Dan’s work on “Judge Dredd” and… Read More ›
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BBC Studios and BBC Worldwide merged in bid to boost brands such as Doctor Who, head off growing competition
Facing ever increasing competition from new streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, the BBC has announced it will merge BBC Studios and BBC Worldwide to form a single commercial organisation, to be called BBC Studios. Operating under the BBC… Read More ›
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The 2000AD Thrill-Cast: Starlord – 40 Years On…
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of 2000AD‘s short-lived stablemate, the 2000AD podcast takes a look at impact and on-going legacy of Starlord – the original home of “Strontium Dog” and “Ro-Busters”. I was delighted to be asked to contribute as… Read More ›
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Rare 1975 Frank Hampson interview for BBC Nationwide released
The BBC Archive has released a 1975 Nationwide feature and interview with Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson, recorded shortly after the artist and writer was voted Prestigioso Maestro at an international convention of strip cartoon and animated film artists held… Read More ›
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Pete Nash, creators of Sun strip “Striker”, announces plan for a new weekly comic, new collection on sale
Pete Nash, the creator of the hugely-successful Striker comic, has outlined plans for a new comics project over on the StrikerWorld forum. Rather than editorialise his statement, here it is in full, for both potential readers (and comic creators) to… Read More ›
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2000AD Prog 2061, 2017 Christmas Special story line-up revealed, Starlord secrets exposed!
Details of this year’s 100-page special Christmas issue of 2000AD, have been announced – and if you pre-order now from the 2000AD web shop, the first 200 orders will also get an exclusive Starlord Trooper print by Henry Flint. The… Read More ›
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Calvin and Hobbes signed print among cartoon rarities offered in National Cartoonists Society Foundation’s Thanks + Giving Auction
In collaboration with The National Cartoonists Society and major strip syndicators, Heritage Auctions is hosting The National Cartoonists Society Foundation’s Thanks + Giving Auction, a unique auction featuring original comic art from more than 100 internationally-renowned creators. Proceeds from winning bids will… Read More ›
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Avast there. landlubbers! There’s new Commandos on sale soon!
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s long-running war comic Commando (Issues 5075 – 5078 ) – on sale this Thursday, 30th November 2017 in all good newsagents and various digital platforms. From the cobbled streets of… Read More ›
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Lost superhero Captain Scotland returns, in time for Book Week Scotland 2017
After mysteriously disappearing from the pages of the Scottish small press magazine Atomic some 30 years ago, superhero Captain Scotland is to return on St Andrews Day 2017, during Book Week Scotland. “Captain Scotland: Back to the Future”, a new short story featuring the… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: 2000AD 2059 and Signing News!
Featuring cracking cover art by Tiernen Trevallion, who also delivers another terrific episode of “Absalom” scripted by Gordon Rennie, 2000AD Prog 2059 is on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops tomorrow. Fronted by an all-action Dredd episode from… Read More ›
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Robby the Robot, star of Forbidden Planet, becomes the most valuable movie prop ever sold at auction
Robby the Robot, the seven-foot tall robot from the classic 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet, recently sold at Bonhams New York for a world record price of $5,375,000 in the TCM Presents… Out of This World! auction of classic… Read More ›
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TV21 243, a special continuation of the original Gerry Anderson-inspired comic, offered again
The Official Gerry Anderson Store is selling copies of TV21 No. 243 – an “alternate universe” continuation of the first series of classic 1960s comic TV21, originally produced as part of the Supermarionation Blu-Ray and DVD release by Network, back… Read More ›
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Doctor? Doctor Who? Graeme Neil Reid’s latest Art Raffle celebrates two takes on Britain’s favourite time traveller
There’s a return to familiar territory for artist Graeme Neil Reid for his incredible monthly Art Raffle he runs to encourage Patreon support for his work – but with some not so familiar faces. Graeme is a Scottish artist who… Read More ›
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In Praise of… Dan Dare and Trigan Empire Comic Artist and Illustrator Oliver Frey
A look back at the career of Oliver Frey, still busy today!